title: Lichen sclerosus in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review of lichen sclerosus in children and adolescents will discuss the disease and highlight the most recent literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lichen sclerosus continues to be poorly recognized and misdiagnosed by clinicians. There is growing support for an autoimmune component in the cause of this disease. Recent studies confirm that lichen sclerosus does not resolve after puberty but usually improves. In small case series, topical calcineurin inhibitors are effective as second-line therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon, poorly recognized disease in girls and adolescents and is likely to have a chronic course requiring long-term follow-up and treatment. There needs to be increased awareness among providers of this disease as a cause of vulvar itching. Because of the lack of knowledge of the natural course and treatment outcomes, prospective, multicenter studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Melina L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dendrinos
authors.forename: Elisabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Quint
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents